Aloysius Versiglia was the first salesian
bishop who was martyred in the mission land.
He was born at Oliva Gessi, Pavia, Italy and entered the Valdocco
Oratory at the age of 12. Inspired by the Don Bosco Aloysius wanted to follow
him and thus received the religious habit at the hands of Blessed Michael Rua
on 21 October 1888. Subsequently he made
his first profession on 11 October 1889.
As a religious he was outstanding in virtues. He edified others more by
his example than by his words. He was
ordained a priest on 21 December 1895 by Mgr. Richelmy, Bishop of Ivrea. It the
very first year of his priesthood he was sent as Rector and Director of the
Novices at Genzano. The young Rector
solved all his difficulties not with his authority but with prayer, penance and
silence. Much later, the salesians who
were formed under him spoke highly of their beloved Rector with nostalgic
feelings.
He was chosen to lead the missionary
expedition to China in 1905. The missionaries reached Hong Kong after six
months of sailing. Very soon he sent a report to the generalate about the
growing mission in China. His tireless
work in the mission land crowned him with the Episcopal title. He became the bishop of Shiu Chow. As a bishop his priority was the work of
evangelization at the same time he also concentrated on expanding the salesian
works. He also gave sound formation to his diocese. Even as a bishop he had to face lot of
difficulties like civil war, poverty in the mission station, paucity of
personnel and misunderstanding with the major superiors. In spite of all these hardships he was
dazzling with virtues like his Eucharistic piety, filial devotion to Mary help
of Christians, his humility, missionary zeal and so on.
The holy bishop travelled with Fr. Caravario
and some catechists on a boat on a pastoral visit to the Linchow mission on 25
February 1930. When the boat was at the
confluence of the rivers Sui Pin and Siu Pak Kong all of a sudden 10 armed men
(Communist Pirates) appeared and seized the three catechists who were on the
missionaries’ boat after looting the valuable things. The bishop and Fr. Caravario opposed them
with all their strength to defend the safety and the virtue of the three young
Christian women. At last, these two
clergymen were beaten and were shot at.
The catholics of the place took the corpses and did the funeral
rites. Pope Paul VI recognized their
martyrdom in 1973. Finally, Bl. John
Paul II numbered them among the Blessed on 15 May 1983 and canonized them on 1
October 2000.
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